Not in a position to regulate ‘Godmen’: Allahabad HC
4 Sep 2013 10:28 PM GMT
The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court, on Tuesday said that they are not in a position to direct the regulation of Godmen and astrologers.
The bench comprising Justice Imtiyaz Murtaza and Justice D K Upadhyaya said that there were already certain legal measures like Drugs and Magical Remedies Act and others available laws against fraudulent Babas. The bench added that the court was not competent to pass guidelines to regulate Godmen and astrologers, howsoever the need maybe, because the matter lay in the realm of the legislature.
However the court agreed with many facts presented by the petitioners IPS officer Amitabh Thakur and social activist Dr Nutan Thakur in the PIL directing the court to put some regulatory mechanism for Godmen and astrologers.
The PIL said that India has a very large number of astrologers and Godmen who claim to possess divinity and supernatural powers. They have a great hold over people, particularly the poor and illiterate. Most of these people take monetary returns in return of their services.
Hence, Amitabh and Nutan had asked for the formation of two separate professional bodies at national and regional levels for Astrologers and Godmen, consisting completely of people from these fields to safeguard interests of common people.
Meanwhile, the distrct administration in Bhadohi has issued notice to Asaram Bapu for encroachment of land. According to a complaint filed by locals, the ashram management has encroached half of a pond.
The sub divisional magistrate (SDM) B Sriram said that the ashram had been issued notice and the efforts were being made to free the encroached land.
The bench comprising Justice Imtiyaz Murtaza and Justice D K Upadhyaya said that there were already certain legal measures like Drugs and Magical Remedies Act and others available laws against fraudulent Babas. The bench added that the court was not competent to pass guidelines to regulate Godmen and astrologers, howsoever the need maybe, because the matter lay in the realm of the legislature.
However the court agreed with many facts presented by the petitioners IPS officer Amitabh Thakur and social activist Dr Nutan Thakur in the PIL directing the court to put some regulatory mechanism for Godmen and astrologers.
The PIL said that India has a very large number of astrologers and Godmen who claim to possess divinity and supernatural powers. They have a great hold over people, particularly the poor and illiterate. Most of these people take monetary returns in return of their services.
Hence, Amitabh and Nutan had asked for the formation of two separate professional bodies at national and regional levels for Astrologers and Godmen, consisting completely of people from these fields to safeguard interests of common people.
Meanwhile, the distrct administration in Bhadohi has issued notice to Asaram Bapu for encroachment of land. According to a complaint filed by locals, the ashram management has encroached half of a pond.
The sub divisional magistrate (SDM) B Sriram said that the ashram had been issued notice and the efforts were being made to free the encroached land.
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